This post has been in the making for some time now. I love the TV show "Avatar: The Last Airbender." One of the best cartoon shows that has come out in a LONG time. The show features "bending", which is the ability to manipulate an element. Each element has it's respective nation in the "Avatar world" and bending art. The four elemental Bending Arts are based on the four elements: water, earth, fire and air. Each are manipulated through certain martial art styles which resemble that of the element. (Hope you're following me thus far.)
Today, I would like to talk about airbending.
Airbending is, obviously, the manipulation of air. It is a unique style of bending. There's no limitations as to environmental factors (air is everywhere) and they use their own momentum as the weapon. Airbenders are fast, agile, and able to deflect or negate opponents attacks. This style is actually more of a defensive style with lots of circular movements. The Air Nomads set themselves apart from the world, focusing on spirituality and peace.
Though their numbers were always less than that of the other nations, everyone in the Air nation was able to bend because they kept themselves apart from the worldly problems. Let me repeat the last part again, but amended a tad: they kept themselves apart from the world.
We weren't sent to earth for riches, fame, or honor. We are here to "...
1prepare to meet God: yea, behold the day of this life is the day for men to perform their labors." Continually we are told to be "in the world, but not of the world." For me, the Airbenders understood this concept.
They focused on peace and freedom. What would it be like to have a world of Airbenders? (aside from the bending, which would be pretty sweet!) For one thing, we would all be that much more spiritual. The world would be united in seeking the kingdom of God
(2). Obviously we still wouldn't be perfect, but striving to be perfect would be a whole lot easier!
Maybe it's because I have been up in Northern California for a while, but peace and love should be everywhere! As Uncle Iroh says "protection and power are overrated. I think you are very wise to choose happiness and love." Find that inner Airbender. Set yourself apart from the teachings of the world and build up that spirituality! As you do so, you will find more peace and you will be happier.
4 comments:
Awesome post! Seriously though, it would be sweet to bend air. Think of the possibilities!
If peace and love were abundant everywhere, life would be so much more different. But why just talk about it, what are can we do today to make that dream become reality?
That is a sparkling analogy. One that makes me push my (figurative) nerd glasses up in pride. We should all take notes from the Airbenders, and be more peaceful and spiritual.
...So, what about the firebenders? ;)
Haha! You all are such nerds! I think today was the day that I finally reached the point where I can't keep up. You're all beyond me. But I still love the analogies. And I love that you put them in ways that even us "less nerdy" people can understand them and apply them. One way to have peace and love is to be more Christlike. Today at dinner we went around the table and told what we did today that was Christlike. That simple question alone made me think about what I do to leave the world a better place. So ask yourself that each day: what have you done to be Christlike?
Elder Menasco, I think the start is by striving to have peace within yourself, then branch out step by step.
Elder Williams, Firebenders is up! Haha, a little late in the response I know...but I did :)
Katrina, that was one of the biggest "a-ha" dinners ever. First on to really make me sit back and think.
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